News
Bolen Will Address September WAC Luncheon
September 20, 2009 11:45am
WICHITA, KS —Ed Bolen, a native Kansan and the president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, Inc. (NBAA) in Washington, DC, will be the featured speaker at the Wichita Aero Club’s monthly luncheon on Wednesday, Sepember 23, 2009. Bolen’s remarks will, no doubt, deal with aviation issues but will also preview the Association’s upcoming Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Florida scheduled for October 20-22. The annual NBAA Convention is the largest gathering of business aviation companies in the world. Tickets for the luncheon can be purchased online at www.wichitaaeroclub.org or can be ordered by calling the Wichita Aero Club at 316.641.5962.
“Ed Bolen is among the most highly respected aviation authorities in Washington, DC and his expertise is sought by all branches of the Federal government,” noted Dave Franson, Executive Director of the Wichita Aero Club. “His presentation this year will not only provide an ‘insider’s view’ of the legislative and regulatory priorities dealing with aviation, his perspective on the state of business aviation as measured by the industry’s participation in the upcoming NBAA Convention will make this an extremely interesting and informative session,” he added.
Prior to joining NBAA in September of 2004, Bolen was president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) for eight years. Bolen joined GAMA in 1995 as senior vice president and general counsel. GAMA’s board of directors elected him president and CEO in November 1996.
Bolen has held numerous important roles in aviation during his tenure in Washington. In 2002 he was nominated by President Bush to serve as a member of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry which was established by Congress to study and make recommendations on ways to ensure American leadership in aerospace in the 21st century. Previously he was nominated by President Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a member of the Management Advisory Council (MAC) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He chaired the Council from 2000 to 2004.
Mr. Bolen is also the vice chairman of RTCA, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation that functions as a Federal Advisory Committee to the FAA on matters related to communications, surveillance, navigation and air traffic management. He also serves on the Aviation Advisory Board of the Mitre Corporation, a federally funded research and development corporation.
He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Wichita Aero Club’s affiliate organization, the National Aeronautic Association. He also serves on the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of The National Academies.
Prior to his association career, Bolen was majority general counsel to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. He also served as legislative director for U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) and was a key player in the passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Kansas and is a graduate of the Tulane University School of Law and holds a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
